Comments Off on The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s Sympatico Receives $50,000 Grant from Genesis Inspiration Foundation; Will Expand to Hammond Middle School
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra’s music education initiative, Sympatico, is thrilled to announce an extraordinary gift from the Genesis Inspiration Foundation in the amount of $50,000 in support of ASO’s music education programs for children. This generous grant comes through the advocacy and support of Kevin Reilly, Owner and President of Alexandria Hyundai and Genesis of Alexandria.
“This gift is a tremendous vote of confidence in the work we’re doing to bring high-quality out-of-school-time opportunities to our community’s children,” said ASO Board Trustee Melynda Wilcox. “We are deeply grateful to Kevin Reilly and the Genesis Inspiration Foundation for their generous investment in our mission.”
Sympatico, an El Sistema-inspired program, provides students with high-quality music instruction at no cost, using music as a catalyst for social change. Since 2012, the program has been offered before and after school at John Adams Elementary School, engaging students through five different ensembles. Sympatico ensembles include: Cantamos (chorus), Fiddle Factory (mixed strings), Mallet Machine (intermediate mallets), Percussion Discussion (bucket band), and Basic Beats and Beyond (K-2).
Thanks to the generous support of the Genesis Inspiration Foundation, Sympatico will expand to Francis C. Hammond Middle School starting September 2025 and will offer a mixed percussion ensemble, Rhythm and Grooves. This group will introduce full ensemble music to students in grades 6-8. This Orff-inspired program allows students to explore music from diverse cultures and genres while developing creativity, movement, and ensemble skills. Students will gain and build upon a strong foundation in music reading, rhythmic fluency, and proper playing technique.
For more information about ASO’s Sympatico program, please visit: www.alexsym.org/education/sympatico
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Announces New Board Leadership as It Celebrates 82 Years; Maestro Ross to Transition to Music Director Laureate
Alexandria, VA – The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) proudly announces a new slate of Executive Board officers as the organization embarks on its 82nd season. Founded in 1943, ASO continues to build upon its artistic legacy and deepen its community impact, highlighted by expansion of their music education program, Sympatico. The upcoming season also marks the final year for Music Director James Ross, who has led the Symphony with imagination and passion since 2018. An internationally respected conductor and educator, Ross brought dynamic vision to ASO’s programming, championing cross-genre collaboration and bold artistic experimentation. His leadership helped reenergize the orchestra and broaden its reach across Alexandria and beyond. The ASO board unanimously named Ross as Music Director Laureate, beginning with the 2026-2027 season.
“This will be a season of both celebration and transition,” said Executive Director George Hanson. “We are so grateful for Jim’s transformative leadership, and we look forward to honoring his contributions while ushering in a new era of artistic and organizational growth.”
In tandem with this transition, ASO welcomes its new Executive Board leadership team:
Noted community leader and classically-trained soprano Laurie MacNamara has been elected Board President to lead the organization through this exciting time. As a retired government and industry IT executive, longtime Alexandrian supporter of the arts, and former president of several Alexandria-area arts organizations including the Alexandria Choral Society and First Night Alexandria, Laurie brings decades of valuable executive experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to her leadership role.
Stepping into the role of Vice President is Peter Horst, a veteran Fortune 500 chief marketing officer and global brand strategist. With over 30 years of experience leading major campaigns for companies like Capital One and Hershey, Horst brings a keen strategic vision to ASO’s leadership during a time of growth and innovation.
Former ASO President Melynda Dovel Wilcox will continue to serve in a new capacity as Board Secretary. A writer and editor with deep ties to Alexandria’s civic life, Wilcox has long supported the arts alongside her musically inclined family.
Continuing in his role as Treasurer, Freeman Jelks, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of FNJ 3, brings strong financial expertise and a steadfast commitment to the Symphony’s fiscal health.
“As we look ahead to our 82nd season, the Alexandria Symphony is poised for an exciting future,” said Executive Director George Hanson. “With this dynamic leadership team in place and continued investment in our educational programming, we are building an even more vibrant and inclusive musical community for Alexandria and beyond.”
For more information about the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and its programs, visit www.alexsym.org.
Media Contact:
Sydney Watson, Director of Development and Community Partnerships
Comments Off on Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 and William Tell Overture, with a Brazilian flair!
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) concludes its season on April 26th and 27th, 2025, with a thrilling program blending classical masterpieces and contemporary works. The concert opens with Clarice Assad’s Brazilian Fanfare, a vibrant celebration of Brazilian musical traditions, followed by Rossini’s iconic William Tell Overture. Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances(Ring Shout and Holy Dance) pay tribute to Black American music, seamlessly blending gospel, jazz, and classical influences.
The evening culminates with Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by internationally acclaimed pianist Sofya Gulyak, the first woman to win the Leeds International Piano Competition. Don’t miss this electrifying finale of bold rhythms, lyrical beauty, and virtuosic brilliance!
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets start at $22 for adults, with youth tickets (ages 18 and under) priced at just $5. Senior and Military discounts are available in certain sections. Seating is limited, so early ticket purchases are highly recommended.
For tickets and more information, visit alexsym.org or call (703) 548-0885.
CONCERT DETAILS
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
George Washington Masonic Memorial
Tickets: Adult tickets start at $22. Youth tickets $5 (age 18 and under) with adult purchase. Discounts available for military, seniors, and groups.
Free parking is available at both venues. The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall is accessible via Metro bus lines 7A, 7B, 7F, 7Y, 25A, 25C, and 25E, as well as DASH bus line AT6. The George Washington Masonic Memorial is accessible by the Blue and Yellow Metro lines (King Street Station), multiple Metro and DASH bus lines, and the King Street Trolley.
Tickets: Adult tickets start at $22. Youth tickets $5 (age 18 and under) with adult purchase. Discounts available for military, seniors, and groups.
Free parking available nearby. The venue is accessible via local Metro and DASH bus routes.
About the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1943, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Northern Virginia through vibrant performances, innovative programming, and community engagement. Under the artistic direction of Maestro James Ross, ASO continues to inspire audiences with performances that celebrate the past, present, and future of classical music.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Renews Music Directors James Ross’ Contract through 2027
ALEXANDRIA, VA— April 16, 2024 —The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce that ASO Music Director and Conductor James Ross has been named Director of Orchestral Studies at the Curtis Institute of Music starting in the 2024-25 school year. Mr. Ross will continue to serve as Music Director of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, having recently renewed his contract with the ASO for another three years.
ASO Executive Director George Hanson states, “Since arriving in Alexandria in 2018, Jim has infused the ASO with energy and creativity. We are thrilled that Jim is continuing his role as ASO’s Music Director and are very pleased with the opportunities that his role with the Curtis Institute of Music will bring to our orchestra.”
James Ross is a native of Boston, Curtis alum, an improviser, a horn-blower, a dogged questioner of concert rituals, a man who likes to move, a phrase-shaper, and a firm believer in the humanizing impact of classical music on the lives of those it touches. Fueled by these traits, Mr. Ross is in his sixth season as Music Director of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, where he has created memorable concert events for ASO’s expanding audience and elevated the profile of the ASO among regional orchestras.
Ross is well known for his expertise in orchestral training: he is the founding orchestra director of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA, where he oversees all artistic and educational activities during the orchestra’s annual summer residency and served as professor at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2017. For the last two academic years, Mr. Ross has been helping the Curs orchestra establish strong roots together and encouraging their artistry to grow and flourish. For three weeks this past September, Mr. Ross worked with Curtis’s students developing trust in their own ability to learn music quickly and meaningfully—skills they will rely on their entire careers.
He has led the National Youth Orchestra of the USA as orchestra director since its founding in 2013 and taught conducting at the Juilliard School since 2011 and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia since 2022. He served as professor and director of orchestral activities at the University of Maryland for 16 years and was also music director of the Orquesta Simfònica del Vallès in Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Ross’s principal conducting teachers were Kurt Masur, Oto-Werner Mueller, Seiji Ozawa, and Leonard Bernstein. He was artistic director of the National Orchestral Institute (NOI) at the University of Maryland from 2002 to 2012 where his leadership helped served as an impetus for change in the orchestral landscape of our country.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Presents New World Symphony – Going Home
Alexandria, VA—Led by Music Director James Ross, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present the program Going Home on Saturday, November 4, 2023, and Sunday, November 5, 2023. Throughout the 2023-2024 season, ASO is celebrating its 80th anniversary season with ASO at 80 original commissioned pieces, works featuring composers and soloists from diverse backgrounds, multiple masterworks, and selections by living composers.
Antonín Dvořák’s beloved New World Symphony anchors November’s program, conveying the sounds of Appalachia and Americana. Tscenacomoco by Native American composer Dawn Avery connects to Alexandria’s Native history and Dvořák’s exploration of Native American and African American music. The concerts will also feature excerpts from Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations, written as a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., and the performances will open with a surprise guest artist.
Mountain dulcimer virtuoso Stephen Seifert is the featured artist on the program, performing Conni Ellisor’s Blackberry Winter. Seifert has performed with numerous orchestras and at hundreds of festivals and events in the U.S., England, and Japan. An expert on the mountain dulcimer, he has authored ten books, four CDs, and hundreds of instructional videos. Seifert has worked with Ellisor on multiple collaborations, including the recording of Blackberry Winter where he was featured with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
The 2023-2024 Season is generously underwritten by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and the Rea Charitable Trust. Dawn Avery’s Tscenacomoco has been commissioned and sponsored by Classical Movements as part of the ASO at 80 Project.
All Saturday performances are held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees are held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at 3:00 p.m. Saturday concert attendees are invited to a pre-concert talk with Maestro Ross and Mr. Seifert at 6:30 p.m. in the Terrace section of the hall. Parking is free at both venues. Tickets are now on sale. Adult prices start at $20 with $5 for youth (18 and under) and $15 for students. Military, senior and group discounts are also available.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Presents 80th Season Opener: ASO at 80-oh!
Alexandria, VA—The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents its 80th Anniversary Season opener “ASO at 80-oh!” on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1, 2023. ASO Music Director James Ross leads performances of two beloved masterworks: Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and Brahms’ lyrical Violin Concerto.
“The ASO launches its 80th season with a program full of hoopla, whimsy, poise, and pathos,” says Maestro Ross. “Back-to-back toasts start things off, the first by ASO Artistic Advisor Dr. Lester Green, whose musical Toast takes a playful look at an ‘aging’ orchestra, followed by Quinn Mason’s catchy 21st-century overture Toast of the Town. Brahms in the hands of Elissa Lee Koljonen will shine, and the quasi-confessional nature of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony follows its journey through challenge to celebration.”
Hailed for her sensual and deeply personal style, Koljonen has performed with many of the world’s greatest orchestras including Philadelphia, Minnesota, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Helsinki, Seoul and the Royal Philharmonic. She appears by arrangement with the Curtis Institute of Music.
The 2023-2024 Season is generously underwritten by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and the Rea Charitable Trust. Lester Green’s Toast has been commissioned and sponsored by Classical Movements as part of the ASO at 80 Project. These opening concerts are sponsored by Fran and Gant Redmon.
Saturday’s performance will be held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s matinee will be held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at 3:00 p.m. Parking is free at both venues. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale. Subscription packages start at $86 for five concerts; adult prices for single tickets start at $20 with $5 for youth (18 and under) and $15 for students. Military, senior and group discounts are also available.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Announces ASO at 80 Project
Alexandria, VA— Four original pieces, commissioned in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will be presented as part of the ASO at 80 Project. Led by Music Director James Ross, the commissions will premiere throughout the 2023-2024 Season as introductions to four of the five performances.
“I see in this year’s programs the diversity, the universality, and the striving human spirit embodied in music,” says Maestro Ross. “Every concert is a jewel in itself; taken together, they are a showcase of older and newer, contemporary and established works, and the richness of stories told in sound.”
The season opens on September 30 and October 1, 2023, with “ASO at 80-oh!” The commissioned piece, Toast, is inspired by the 80th anniversary and will feature composer Lester Green at the piano. A prolific composer and performer, Dr. Green currently serves as Artistic Director for the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts and Artistic Advisor for the ASO. “The original verses span from nostalgic reflections on moments shared around music with family and friends to Dr. Seuss-inspired musings about the humorous personalities within orchestras,” says Green.
On November 4 and 5, 2023, ASO presents “Going Home,” opening with Tscenacomoco by Native American composer Dawn Avery. The piece connects to Alexandria’s Native history encompassing the region and honoring the Powhatan Chiefdom, including six remaining tribes. “This work employs contemporary performance techniques and soaring melodies that reflect Indigenous soundscapes, decolonizing strategies in composition, the lands and peoples of the Tscenacomoco,” says Avery.
On February 10 and 11, 2024, the program entitled” Do Not Go Gentle” opens with Milad Yousufi’s Aurora, drawn from his experience as an Afghan refugee and inspired by a poem dedicated to his mother. His works express both his pride in his country of birth and his longing to return. “I have always dreamed of writing music for the next generation of artists in Afghanistan, to do what Bartók did for his country as a composer and ethnomusicologist,” Yousufi says.
For the season finale “Shuffle and Deal” on April 20 and 21, 2024, the final commission is inspired by Bernstein’s “Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town. Jorge Amado, Cuban-born composer and rising new star, dedicated this fourth dance, Alexandria Shuffle, to Old Town Alexandria. “I used traditional rhythms of Cuban music, such as son, mambo, and rumba,” says Amado. “I also wanted to represent American music through the influence of Leonard Bernstein.” Maestro Ross premiered one of Amado’s works with the Cuban American Youth Orchestra in 2019.
The 2023-2024 Season is generously underwritten by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and the Rea Charitable Trust. ASO at 80 works are commissioned by Classical Movements for the September/October, November, and April performances. February’s ASO at 80 composition is commissioned by Nancy Davenport.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Announces 2023-2024 Season: ASO at 80!
Alexandria, VA—The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra announces its 2023-2024 Season led by Conductor and Music Director James Ross. ASO will celebrate its 80th anniversary season with four ASO at 80 original commissioned pieces, works featuring composers and soloists from diverse backgrounds, multiple masterworks, and selections by living composers.
“I am thrilled with the eclectic, multifaceted programs we are offering to celebrate the ASO’s 80th anniversary and to contribute to the 275th anniversary of the City of Alexandria in 2024,” says Maestro James Ross. “These programs represent who we are through music — from classics to the contemporary, from master composers to new voices, from our western heritage to what is uniquely American. Each program speaks to us in terms of its own time and place yet relates directly to what we see and experience today.”
ASO kicks off its anniversary celebration on September 30 and October 1, 2023, with a program entitled “ASO at 80-oh!” The concert opens with a commission, Toast, featuring Artistic Advisor and composer Lester Green at the piano leading into Quinn Mason’s Toast of the Town with full orchestra. The concert includes two masterworks: Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Elissa Lee Koljonen as soloist. Hailed for her sensual playing, Koljonen has graced the stages of prominent venues throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. The concert opens with a surprise guest artist.
“Going Home” on November 4 and 5, 2023, ASO conveys the sounds of Appalachia and Americana, anchored by Antonín Dvořák’s beloved New World Symphony. Tsenacomoco by Native American composer Dawn Avery connects to Alexandria’s Native history and Dvořák’s exploration of Native American and African American music. Also featured are excerpts from Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations (a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.) followed by Conni Ellisor’s Blackberry Winter with Stephen Seifert on mountain dulcimer. Seifert has performed with numerous orchestras and at hundreds of festivals and events in the U.S., England, and Japan.
ASO’s presents its annual holiday concert “With a Twist” on December 16 and 17, 2023, with a mix of traditional and contemporary favorites to celebrate the season. Jazz singer and opera librettist Joshua Banbury will delight with his baritone styling. Alexandria’s own world whistling champion Chris Ullman will serenade you; Ullman has performed with major orchestras in a variety of genres. This concert is family-friendly, and patrons are invited to come early to hear students from ASO’s Sympatico music education program in the lobby.
In collaboration with Cantate Concert Choir, ASO brings you W.A. Mozart’s emotionally stirring Requiem in D minor on February 10 and 11, 2024 with a program entitled “Do Not Go Gentle.” The wide-open spaces of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring balance the intensity of Anna Clyne’s Sound and Fury, inspired by and enhanced with narration from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The program opens with a commission, Milad Yousufi’s Aurora, drawn from his experience as an Afghan refugee.
For the season finale on April 20 and 21, 2024, ASO presents “Shuffle and Deal” with Dmitri Shostakovich’s triumphant Symphony No. 5. Renowned Cuban pianist and composer Aldo López-Gavilán performs his concerto Emporium, expanded from a tune inspired by his twin daughters. Leonard Bernstein’s “Three Dance Episodes” from On the Town will be followed by a fourth dance and final commissioned work: Alexandria Shuffle by Jorge Amado. Maestro Ross premiered one of Amado’s works with the Cuban American Youth Orchestra in 2019.
The 2023-2024 Season is generously underwritten by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, and the Rea Charitable Trust. ASO at 80 works are commissioned by Classical Movements for the September/October, November, and April performances. February’s ASO at 80 composition is commissioned by Nancy Davenport.
All Saturday performances will be held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees will be held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial at 3:00 p.m. Parking is free at both venues. Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale. Subscription packages start at $86 for five concerts; adult prices for single tickets start at $20 with $5 for youth (18 and under) and $15 for students. Military, senior and group discounts are also available.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Performs for Alexandria Birthday Celebration
Alexandria, VA—Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present a free concert as part of the 274th Alexandria Birthday Celebration on Saturday, July 8, 2023. The celebration, sponsored by the city and coordinated by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, culminates with fireworks underscored by additional music from the ASO.
The concert will include the Armed Forces Medley, film scores, patriotic favorites and highlights from West Side Story and Guys and Dolls. The grand finale will feature a spectacular fireworks display with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, accompanied by live cannons from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The program will be led by guest conductor John Devlin, a thought leader in the field of classical music and Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.
“I’m honored to conduct such a fine symphony as the ASO,” says Maestro Devlin. “The Birthday Celebration has been a tradition for decades, cherished by the community. I’m excited to be a part of this wonderful event.”
As ASO partners in the celebration, the ASO thanks its concert sponsors: McEnearney Associates Realtors, Caudron Megary Blackburn Wealth Management, Chadwicks, and the City of Alexandria.
“This well-loved annual event brings our city together,” says ASO Executive Director George Hanson. “We’re honored to serve the community once again, thanks to the support of the City of Alexandria and our business partnerships.”
The Alexandria Birthday Celebration is free and open to the public in Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison Street, Alexandria. The park opens at 5:00 p.m. with food vendors; live opening entertainment begins at 6:00 p.m. The City’s presentation with Mayor Wilson and cupcakes starts at 7:00 p.m. The ASO’s concert begins at 8:30 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Comments Off on Alexandria Symphony Presents Rite of Spring & Grieg Piano Concerto
Alexandria, VA— The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present its season finale entitled Awaken on Saturday, April 15, 2023 (7:30 p.m.) at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center.
The program opens with Mojito con saoco by Cuban composer Guido Lòpez-Gavilàn. López-Gavilán was commissioned to write an overture by the Cuban American Youth Orchestra as a gift from CAYO to the city of Havana in honor of its 500th anniversary. The world premiere debuted in May 2019 prepared by ASO’s Music Director James Ross.
The Rite of Spring was commissioned as one of three ballet scores for the 1913 season of the Ballets Russe. While its premiere created nothing short of a riot—complete with vegetables thrown at the musicians and dancers—today it is considered one of symphonic music’s most significant works. Stravinsky’s combination of complex rhythm, dissonance and Russian folk elements influenced later 20th century composers. It is frequently recorded and performed both with and without dancers; ASO’s April performance features only the music.
“There are so many ways of thinking about the Rite of Spring,” says Maestro James Ross. “I’m asking myself, ‘What am I willing to lose to allow my future to thrive? What needs to go and what does that expulsion sound like?’ Stravinsky dreamed of an ancient tribal ritual. I hear a renewed future calling to us bracingly through notes that are still hard to predict even 110 years after they were penned.”
Edvard Grieg’s only completed piano concerto will culminate the program. Among his earliest compositions, the composer incorporated motifs from his native Norway; its main theme has made it one of the most recognized and performed in the piano repertoire. Internationally renowned pianist Natalia Kazaryan will bring this passionate and unforgettable work to life.
A sought-after soloist and recording artist, Natalia Kazaryan is dedicated to giving equal platform to female composers in her public appearances and notably curated and performed a recital of all women composers at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. A frequent collaborator with members of the National Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Kazaryan often appears at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and in partnership with the orchestra’s performances at Howard University. Ms. Kazaryan is a recipient of the Sobresaliente Award from the hands of Queen Sofía of Spain for outstanding work and excellence. She holds an adjunct piano faculty position at Howard University, is a board member of the International Alliance for Women in Music and co-founded the Washington Arts Ensemble.